Hi everyone I'm new to this site I have been suffering with a/f for many years and my dr has just agreed to go in and do an ablation has anyone on here had one of these as I have been put on two tablet to prevent strokes while on waiting list for operation,
I have been in and out of hospital three time this year with a/f and I feel it's becoming a pain in my life at the moment
Nice to know there's a site like this one on here.
Hi there Julie and welcome. Yes, lots of us have been exactly where you are now and have had an ablation. There is plenty of information which will be very helpful to you.
You could not do better than to have a look at what dedeottie has just posted. See Fingers and toes crossed...
Hello Julie and welcome to the forum. You've found the right place for advice and support. There are many members who have had ablations and who share their experiences with us - so helpful for those of us who may have the procedure in the future. There is also a wealth of information on the main AFA website regarding the procedure, but personal experiences help so much.
Feel at home to ask any questions - someone will have an answer. xx
Hi Julie, please go to the AF Association site and read all you can of the fact sheets on there which will help you to understand all there is about ablation, anticoagulation etc.
I had three ablations up to 2008 since when I have been AF free so while it may perhaps take more than one attempt it really is life changing if your AF has started to control your life.
Ask any questions here and we will try to answer them.
Bob
Hi Julie,
Welcome to this great forum ,You will find lots of support and lovely people on here.
Wendi xx
Hi Julie
I had an ablation 10 years ago and my AF went totally, straight away. I came off all drugs except anti-coagulants which I am on forever. I am not saying this just to make you feel at ease, but my ablation was a breeze. I was worried, you'd have to be brain-dead not to be the first time, but biggest problem I had was my groin entry point took a bit longer than normal to heal. My chest felt a bit tight and funny for a week but that's all. It's not recommended but I was back at work within days.
10 years later I now have an arrhythmia again but not AF, not much of it anyhow. Controlled by drugs again, which are working great so far.
Hope you have a good one 
Koll
Hi Julie, like you I'm waiting to have an ablation done after 7 years of AF ruling my life and numerous visits to the hospital where I receive mixed reactions.
Have you got your date yet?
Hi Hulie and welcome, yes to both your questions. I have had 2 - first in Nov 2013 and second in Mar 2014 as Bob says, sometimes it requires more than one procedure, no AF since Mar 2014. It is MUCH easier than you ever imagine, there are loads of experiences posted on this site.
It doesn't work for everyone but your EP will give an estimation of the chances of success, mine was very confident and gave 97% 1st time, unfortunately I was in the 3% that didn't work first time and 99% for the second time - thankfully second time around it worked!
It is nothing like open heart surgery, it was not as bad as having a tooth out. I had sedation not a general but some EP's do offer a GA. I was in for one night and left for home the next morning and travelled home from London to Devon, although my husband drove!
Hi Julie I had my first ablation Dec 2014. My AF was becoming more troublesome and my attendances at A/E more frequent. I was very nervous prior to the ablation but I received a lot of support from this forum. I am so pleased I went ahead with the ablation as I have been AF free since. Mine was done under sedation and I only experienced slight discomfort. Felt well almost immediately. I hope all goes well for you.
I cannot believe people actually live with AF, unless there are degrees of severity, I had a cardioversion, little under 3 weeks ago, and on Monday it flipped back, so once again I am virtually chair bound, can barely breath. If I have to live like this, not sure what I will do. I have no life. 
Annieszoo. That's dreadful . You need to see your GP, and get something done . You can't live like that . No one should . Perhaps the medication you're on doesn't suit you and you need a re shuffle . You have to shout at some medics with this condition !
Lisa
Annieszoo, many of us only have AF occasionally, and plenty of us have it all the time. Some of us have hardly any symptoms and others are debilitated. It's not the all same by any means. There are lots of ways of improving one's situation, so don't suffer as you are. Get your life back! This forum is full of good advice and useful information.
Annie.
There are definitely degrees of severity. Also different types. Also it is the knock on effects.
Have you checked your SpO2 levels and do so daily? That is well worth it (it was in my case).
See my post a bit further on below.
Having an ablation changed my life totally for the better. Don't worry about any negatives. Yes it doesn't always work perfectly first time but it's a relative new technique they are still perfecting, and if you need a second or third one at least you know what to expect.
Regarding anti-coagulation, I wonder if these should be made even more available as statins are becoming, as I believe the might have prevented the heart attack I suffered which led to the quad bypass operation I needed which caused the AF in the first place.
Thanks for making me feel so welcome everyone what a lovely responce,
My troubles started in 2004 when I had my first heart attack at the age of 42 this left my heart with a/f but it only became more often after my gastric bypass surgery two years ago think the heart didn't cope very well with losing 11 half stone so fast, since then I have been in and out of hospital but the last one over Easter was the worst as I had to go to theatre to be cardio zapped this was scary to,say the least my worst fear is the waiting list having said that I did have my heart MRI scan last Friday so hoping I'm not waiting too long as the tablets I have been put on have to be monitored at hospital every month I have to go for text before a repeat perception which takes hours in there as they have to wait for blood test to come back before giving me any more tablets they said it's something to do,with the liver, I feel the worst think is the family there very concerned about all this and if you tell then to ready about it it makes things worse but there you got now I have been on here I know I'm not alone.
It's happening to others out there.
Thanks
Hi julie , this site has helped me no end . Ask and you will find an answer , not always the one you want to hear tho , but knowledge is king . I had a stroke in Hawaii 18 months ago , bad enough for the medics to tell my partner to get my kids over pretty damn quick as they didn't expect me to survive . But they got the clot out before it hit my brain and I'm fine , but that was when I found out I had persistent A F ! I'm waiting an ablation and it scared me stupid when I first found out as my cardio version lasted 6 months , but the more I read on here and talk and ask , hey , it's not such a big deal any more ! I'm on digoxin ramapril atavorstain bisoprolol and rivaroxaban . So good luck .
Lisa
Julie.
Welcome. A ton of information on the forum.
Just to give you hope that they don't give up on people. I was in persistent AF. I had a DCC but was only in sinus for 24 hours. They key thing was that it proved I could be returned to sinus. Had an ablation followed by DCC which put me back in sinus. Lasted less than 72 hours before being back in persistent AF. I had been told by the consultant EP that he thought that there was no chance in my case that an ablation would work first time and that it could quite possibly take three goes. I will then join the others on here who have three and there are a few who have had quite a few more.
Tip - ask the consultants those awkward and direct questions. The more you ask the more they will give information. Not asking can lead then to think that people don't want to know but still want to go ahead.
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